Announcing device



311W 1932- J. 1.. FRANKLIN 1,862,475

ANNOUNG ING DEVICE Filed Nov. 24, 1950 '7 Sheets-$heet l June 7, 1932. J FRANKUN 1,862,475

ANNOUNCING DEVICE -Filed Nov. 24. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 2 Iii June 75 1932. g 1 FRANKUN 36 25??? ANNOUNCING DEVICE- Filed NOV. 24, 1930 '7 Sheets-Sheet 3 I! a 11mm Q 5 k N I I J1me 1932-- I J. L.. FRANKLIN 1,862,475

ANNOUNCING DEVICE Filed NOV. 24. 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 4 June 1932- J. L. FRANKLIN 1,862,475

ANNOUNCING DEVICE .FiledNovZ 24, 1930 7 Sheets-Sheet 5 June 7, 1932- J. L. FRANKLIN ANNOUNCING DEVICE Filed Nov. 24. 1950 7 Sheets-Sheet 6 x-aiTZZL dra Patented June 7, 1932 UNITED STATES JOHN L. FRANKLIN, OI ATLANTA, GEORGIA.

ANNOUNCING DEVICE Application filed November 24. 1930. Serial No. 497,910-

This' invention relates to improvements in announcing devices.

One of the objects of the invention is to automatically announce the time over a telephone system and for this purpose, my device may be connected to a telephone, and anyone calling the number of this telephone, causes a clrcuit to be energized, which sets the machine in motion. The machine then lifts the receiver of the telephone, announces the correct time, lowers the receiver and assumes a position ready for the next call. My

device only requires ten seconds to receive and completely answer a call.

Another object is to provide such a device capable of announcing time through a loud speaker. For this purpose, the machine may be set in motion by closin a switch so that the time may be ascertaine in the night or be 0 announced to a blind erson, or the switch may be closed by a cloc r mechanism when it is desired to announce the time at regular intervals.

A further object is to furnish a machine of this character which may be employed to announce any advertising, etc., at a given time or interval. For example, a phonograph record containing ten lines of difierent subjects can be announced at regular intervals, and

' 39 when the lastline is announced, the carriage of the mechanism will automatically return the reproducer to the first line for repetition. A still further object is to provide a device of this kind, which may call a number or make an announcement over a telephone. For instance, a record may be put in the machine containing the number of a police department with any message desired, and then if the machine is electrically connected to a cash register, door, window, etc., the actuation of such an'element will set the machine in motion, lift the receiver of the telephone, call a number, deliver the message, and then lower the receiver. As another example, a building may be wired with thermostatic controls at desired points, the contacts of which will be closed at certain temperatures. When a circult is completed in this way, it will actuate my device and the record may be used to deliver a message to the fire department as mentioned above for calling a police department.

With the foregoing ob ects outlined and with other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel features hereinafter described in detail, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a top plan view of my improved mechanism with certain parts omitted to is.- cilitate illustration.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same.

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation.

Fig. 4 is an elevation of one end of the machine.

Fig. 5 is a similar view of the opposite end of the machine.

Figs. 6 and 7 are respectively transverse vertical sectional views of the machine taken on the line 6-6 and 7-7 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view of a detail on the line 8-8 of Fig. 5.

Figs. 9 and 10 are detail transverse sectional views taken on the lines 9 -9 and 1010 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 11 is a sectional view of a detail on the line 11-11 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 12 is a diagram of one of the electrical circuits.

Fig. 13 is a similar View of the other one of the circuits.

Referring to the drawings, it will be noted that the form of the machine com rises end plates 13 and 14 which are connecte together by rods 15 and 16. The rods 16 form tracks along which a carriage 17 moves. As best shown in Fig. 6, the carriage pivotally supports at 18 a rocking support 19 which carries a reproducer 2O normally held out of contact with the cylindrical sound record 21 by means of a rod 22 which extends lengthwise between the end plates and is carried by arms 23 which are fixed to a rock shaft 24. From Fig. 6 it will be observed that when the rock shaft is moved in a counter clock-wise direction, the rod 22 will permit one end of the pivotal su port 19 to rise and the reproducer at t e opposite end of said support to descend so that its needle may engage the record.

The cylinder revolves with a shaft 25 which is journaled in the end plates and is provid ed on the inner side of one of said plates with a fast cam disk 26 having a peripheral notch 27. This disk is employed to raise and lower a lever 28 which is fixed to a short rock shaft 29 supported by the end plate 13. There is a grooved roller 30 mounted on a short shaft 31 of the lever 28, and this roller travels on the periphery of the disk 26 when the latter is set in motion. The movements of the lever are employed for rocking the shaft 24, and for this purpose, the shaft 24 is provided with a fixed arm 32 that is pivotally connected to the lever by a link 33.

At this point it may be noted that the lever 28 is also employed to lift and lower the receiver hook of a telephone, and for this purpose, as best shown in Fig. 5, the lever has an extension arm 34 of any suitable insulating material which passes through eyes 35 at the end of the conventional hook which supports the receiver 36 of a desk-type telephone 37.

The transmitter 38 of such telephone may be connected by a suitable flexible tube 39 to the reproducer 20, whereby when the record 21 is set in motion and the reproducer is lowered on to the record, the message will be announced into the transmitter, while the receiver 36 is held in elevated position.

The carriage which moves the reprodueer along the record 21 is actuated by suitable clock work mechanism hereinafter described, and for the purpose of setting the mechanism in motion, it will be observed that one end of the record shaft 25 extends through the end plate 13 and has fixed thereto a worm wheel 40 which is actuated by a worm 41 on a shaft 42 that is supported by bearings 43 on the end plate 13.

A pulley 44 is loosely mounted on this shaft and is continuously rotated by an electric motor 45 through the instrumentality of a belt 46, and this pulley is rigidly united with a clutch element 47 which cooperates with a clutch element 48 that is splined to the shaft as at 49.

As shown in Fig. 12, the electromagnet 50 which is mounted on the outer side of the end plate 13 is electrically connected with the telephone 37 by means including a relay 51, and consequently, when the telephone rings, an armature 52, which is pivotally suspended at 53 on the plate 13, is attracted by the electromagnet. The armature in turn pulls a link 54 that pivotally connects the armature to a doubleended lever 55 that is pivotally supported at 56. The upper end of this lever is bifurcated and connected to trunnions 57 which project from the clutch element 48. Consequently, when the magnet 50 is energized, the clutch elements 48, 47 will be brought together and the continuously revolving pulley 44 will set the shaft 42 in motion, with the result that the record will comment with the element 47 as long as the rock shaft 29 is in a certain position. The rock shaft is held in this position for the proper period of time, due to the fact that as soon as the shaft 25 commences to revolve, the roller 30 moves out of the notch-27 and thus lifts the lever 28 which actuates the rock shaft 29 and holds the lever 28 in its elevated position until the disk 26 completes a revolution.

It will be obvious that if it is desired that the record revolve say three or four times to one revolution of the shaft 25, suitable gearing may be interposed between the shaft 25 and the record support.

At this point it will also be noted that the worm gearing 40 and 41 prevents any overrunning of the shaft 25 due to momentum after the shaft has completed a revolution. This aids in preventing the machine from getting out of synchronism. Thus far, it will be understood that as soon as the electromagnet 50 is energized by the ringing of the telephone. the clutch element 48 will be thrown so that the shaft 25 will commence to revolve. This causes the disk 26 to elevate the lever 28 to lift the telephone receiver hook. It also functions to actuate the lever 60 which holds the clutch in, and in addition, it acts to raise the bar 22 so as to allow the reproducer to lower on to the record. As soon as the time on the record is announced into the transmitter 38, and the notch 27 is again beneath the roller 30, the lever 28 will drop and immediately reset the parts.

For the purpose of moving the reproducer carriage along the tracks, the carriage is connected to a rack 62 that is actuated by a pinion 63 that is loosely mounted on a shaft 64, supported by bearing brackets 65 on the plate 14 at the opposite end of the machine. The pinion is rigidly united with a disk 67 having a pin hole 68, and this pinion is also rigid with a clutch element 69. A pin 70 on a disk 71. which is fixed to the shaft, is normally in engagement with the pin hole 68, and consequently, as the shaft moves step by step. on the minute, for instance, the pinion 63 intermittently moves the rack 62 to feed the reproducer carriage 17 toward the end plate 14.

A ratchet wheel 72 is fast on the shaft 64 and is intermittently actuated by a pawl 73 carried by an arm 74 that is pivotally mounted on the shaft 64. The arm is moved by a link 75 which is joined at its lower end to an armature 76. This armature is attracted each minute by an electromagnet 77 which functions as a slave clock. As best shown in Fig. 13, this electromagnet is connected by suitable wires 78 and 79 to a master clock mechanism not shown, and each time the master clock causes the energizing of the magnet 77, the reproducer carriage is moved forward one step.

For setting the mechanism in synchronism with the clock, the ratchet wheel 72 is provided with an indicating mark 80 which may be brought into register with a stationary pointer 81 at a time when the pin 7 0 is in register'with the pin hole 68.

A spring pressed pawl 82 is employed to prevent reverse rotation of the ratchet wheel.

It would be impractical to move the reproducer carriage 17 while the reproducer needle is in engagement with the record, and to prevent the energization of the electromagnet 77 by the master clock from moving the reproducer at such time, the electromagnet 77 is connected to wires 83 and 84, each connected to a contact 85 and 86 respectively. These contacts cooperate with other contacts 87 and 88 which are electrically connected by a wire 89.

By reference now to Fig. 7 it will be observed that the rock shaft 24 is provided.

near the end plate 14 with a depending arm 90 which, when the rock shaft is actuated, functions to push the spring contact 85 into engagement with the contact 87, so as to partially close the auxiliary circuit formed by the parts 83 to 89 inclusive, and the battery 91. Now, if the master clock should er ergize the electromagnet 77, its armature 76 will be attracted, but this armature is pivotally mounted on the plate 14 and has a tail piece 93 to engage the spring contact 86, so that this contact will come into engagement with the contact 88, and the auxiliary circuit shown in Fig. 13 will be completed and the electromagnet 77 will keep the armature 76 depressed until the record has completed a revolution. At that time, the roller of the arm 28 will drop into the notch 27 and the rock shaft 24 will move back to normal position, and the arm 90 will release the contact 85, so as to break the auxiliary circuit. Then, springs 94 will return the armature 76 to normal position. and it in turn will elevate the pawl 73 so as to advance the carriage 17 one step. As it only requires ten seconds to complete an announcement, the holding of the armature 76 depressed for this time interval will not affect the synchronism of the so mechanism.

After the carriage has been moved to the ends of the tracks 16, say during a twelve hour period, it is necessary to rapidly return it to its initial position. For this purpose, the carriage has a screw threaded abutment 95 which comes into engagement with the lever 96 which is pivotally mounted at 97 on the plate 14. When this lever moves, it pulls a rod 98 which is connected to another lever 99 that is located at the opposite end of the machine, and is mounted on a pivot pin 100. This lever is normally held by a spring 101 in such position that bridging contacts at its end are in engagement with a pair of contacts 102 which, as shown in Fig. 12, are

interposed in the telephone circuit. As soon as the lever 99 is moved to a position where it no longer bridges the contacts 102, the telephone circuit is broken, and consequently, if a call should come in while the reproducer carriage is being returned to starting position, the electromagnet 50 will not be energized, and there will be no movement of the record or any contact of the reproducer with the record.

When the lever 99 is moved by the rod 98, a weighted pivoted latch 103 actsto hold the lever in a position where it bridges a pair of contacts 104:. As shown in Fig. 12, these contacts are connected by wires 105 to another auxiliary circuit containing an electromagnet 106, a battery 107 and a motor 108. Therefore, when the magnet 106 is energized in this way, itwill attract an armature 109 that is pivotally mounted at 110 on the plate 1 1. This causes a lever 111, rigid with the armature, to move the clutch element 69 into engagement with a similar clutch element 112 that is rigid with a pulley 113 which is loosev on the shaft 64. The pulley 113 is connected by a belt 114 to the motor 108 which is normally stationary, but is driven by means of the battery 107 when the motor circuit is completed. To complete such circuit, another arm 116 depends from the shaft 110 and carries contacts 117 which cooperate with other stationary contacts 118 of the motor circuit. As soon as the contacts 117 engage contacts 118, the motor commences to revolve and drives the pinion 63 so that the rack 62 forces the reproducer carriage back toward initial position. At such time, due to the shifting of the clutch member 69, the pin 7 0 is out of engagement with its hole 68. and the pawl 82 prevents the ratchet wheel 72 from revolving in reverse direction with the pinion 63.

As the carriage approaches its starting position, a finger 119 (Fig. 2) engages the tail 120 of the pivoted latch 103, so that the outer end of the latter moves upwardly and releases the lever 99, whereby the spring 101 moves the lever away from the contacts 104, (thus breaking the circuit of the electromagnet 106), and into engagement with the contacts 102, to place the telephone circuit in condition to actuate the device. If, however, at this time, the pin is not opposite the hole 68, the spring 121 which lifts the armature 109, cannot break the circuit of the motor I 108, and the motor will continue to revolve until the hole 68 registers with the pin 7 at which time the spring 120 will act so as to lift the armature 109 and move the contacts 117 away from the contacts 118.

- starting position in less than a minute, and

consequently, there is no interference with the time keeping by such action.

In case it is undesirable to hook the device into a telephone circuit, it is manifest that the. electromagnet 50, instead of being used with a relay 51, might be arranged in a circuit having an inter osed microphone. Then, the ringing of the ell would cause the microphone to start the machine in motion.

Furthermore, the electromagnet could be placed in a circuit controlled by any suitable form of switch, so that the time might be ascertained at night, or by a blind person, or the record could form part of a burglar alarm, police announcing system or the like.

Those skilled in the art will recognize that I have surrounded the mechanism with safeguards, so as to make it entirely feasible and practical, and the various actions take place without interference, so as to prevent the mechanism from getting. out of synchronism.

Vhile I have disclosed what I now consider to be a preferred embodiment of the invention in such manner that the same may be readily understood by persons familiar with such mechanism, I am aware that changes may be made in the details disclosed, without departing from the spirit of the invention, as expressed in the claims.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is ter of the telephone durin the time between the raising and lowering of said support, said last mentioned means including a record member and a reproducer member, and clock 'controlled means for moving the reproducer ing a receiver support, of means for raising and lowering said support, and means for making an announcement into the transmitter of the telephone. between the time the support is raised and lowered, said last menti oned means including a cooperating sound record and reproducer, clock operated means for moving the reproducer along the record, and means for preventing the reproducer from being shifted by the clock operated mechanism while the reproducer is in contact with the record.

5. In mechanism of the class described, a sound record, a worm gear for use in revolving said record, a worm engaging said gear, a shaft for the worm, a prime mover, means ineluding a clutch for actuating the shaft from the prime mover, and electrically actuated means for throwing said clutch into clutching position.

6. In mechanism of the class described, a sound record, a worm gear for use in revolving said record, a worm engaging said gear, a shaft for the worm, a prime mover, means including a clutch for actuating the shaft from the prime mover, electrically actuated means for throwing said clutch into clutching position, and means cooperating with the rotatable record for holding the clutch in clutching position after said electrically actuated means has been de-energized.

7. In mechanism of the class described, a sound record shaft, a pivotally mounted lever for raising and lowering the receiver support of a telephone, a cam disk rotatable with the shaft for raising and lowering said lever, a prime mover, means including a movable clutch element for actuating said shaft from the prime mover, electrically operated means for holding the clutch element in clutching position, and means actuated by said lever for holding the clutch element in clutching position after the electrically opcrated means has been de-energized.

8. In mechanism of the class described, a revolvable sound record shaft, a cam disk movable with said shaft, a receiver hook lifter arm actuated by said disk, a prime mover, means including a clutch element for driving the shaft from said prime mover, an electromagnet, an armature cooperating with said magnet, means actuated by the armature for moving the. clutch element into clutching position, and means actuated by said arm for holding the clutch element in clutching position while said shaftrevolves a predetermined degree.

9. In a machine of the character described,

a revolvable sound record support, tracks extending along said support, a carriage movable along the tracks, time controlled means for moving the. carriage along the tracks, a pivotally supported reproducer carried by the carriage, means for normally holding the reproducer in such position as to prevent the reproducer from contacting with a record on said support, and means movable with the. record support for releasing the reproducer whereby the reproducer is brought into contact with the record.

10. In mechanism of the character described, a frame comprising tracks, a rotatable record support mounted in the frame, a carriage movable along said tracks, time controlled means for moving the carriage along the tracks, a reproducer support pivotally connected to the carriage, a reproducer carried by the reproducer support and adapted to cooperate with a record on the recordsupport, a rod extending lengthwise of the frame and cooperating with the reproducer support for normally holding the reproducer out of contact with the record, and electrically controlled means for actuating said rod to move the reproducer into contact with the record.

11. In a machine of the class described, a 'otatable record holder, electrically controlled means for revolving the record holder, a carriage movable along'said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable into and out of contact with a record supported by said holder, time controlled means for feeding the carriage, and means for preventing the last mentioned means from actuating while the record holder is revolving.

12. In a machine of the character described, a revolvable sound record holder,electrically controlled means for actuating said holder, including electric contacts, an element normally bridging said contacts, a. carriage movable along said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable into and out of contact with a record supported by the holder, time controlled means for moving the carriage along said holder, and means actuated by the carriage for moving the bridging element out of engagement with said contacts when the carriage reaches a predetermined position.

13. In a machine of the class described, a rotatable record holder, a carriage movable along said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from'said record holder, time controlled means for feedmg the carriage along said holder, and, including an electromagnet and an armature cooperating therewith, and auxiliary electrically operated means for causing said magnet to hold the armature as long as said record holder is revolving.

14. In mechanism of the class described, a rotatable record holder, electrically controlled means for driving said holder, a carriage movable along said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from a record supported by the holder, 9. rock shaft extending alon the holder,arms fixed to the rock shaft, a ro carried by said arms and normally holding the reproducer out of contact with the record, means actuated by said electrically controlled means for swinging the rock shaftto cause the rod to lower the reproducer on to the record when the record holder commences to revolve, timecontrolled means including an electromagnet and an armature, for feeding the carriage along said record'holder, and means cooperating with said rock shaft for holding the armature in en agement with the electromagnet in case tie electromagnet should be energized while the record holder is in motion. 1

15. In a machine of the character described, a. rotatable record holder, a carriage movable along said holder, electrically controlled means for rotating-saidholder, a reproducerv supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from a record supported by sald holder, a rack connected to the carriage,

and time controlled means for moving said rack step by step.

16. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable record holder, a carriage movable along said holder, electrically controlled means for rotating said holder, 3. reproducer supported by the .carriage and movable toward and away from a record supported by said holder, a rack connected to the carriage, and time controlled means for moving said rack step by step, said last mentioned means including a clutch.

17. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable record holder, a carriage movable along said holder, electrically controlled means for rotating said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from a record supported by said holder, a rack connected to the carriage, and time controlled means for moving said rack step by step, said last mentioned means including a pinion enga 'ng the rack and a disk clutch, one disk of t e clutch being provided with a pin and the other disk having a hole to receive the pin.

18. In a machine of the character described,

a rotatable record holder, a carriage movable means for rotating said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from a record supported bysaid holder, a rack connected to the carriage, and time controlled means for moving said rack step by step, said last mentioned means comprising an electromagnet, an armature actuated by the magnet, a pawl actuated by the armature, aratchet wheel operated by the pawl, a shaft intermittently rotated by the ratchet wheel, a pinion loosely mounted on the shaft and engaging the rack, and a clutch interposed between the pinion and shaft.

19. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable sound record holder, a carriage movable along said holder, electrically controlled means for intermittentlyrotating said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from the record holder, time controlled means for feedingthe carriage along the record holder, and means cooperating with the last mentioned means for returning the carriage to starting position after a predetermined period of time.

20. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable sound record holder, a carriage movable along said holder, electrically controlled means for rotating said holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from the record holder, time controlled means for feeding the carriage along the record holder, and means cooperating with the last mentioned means for returning the carriage to star ing position after a predetermined period of time, the carriage returning means including a movable clutch element, an armature for moving the clutch element into clutching position, arid an electromagnet for attracting said armature.

21. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable record holder, electrically controlled means for rotating said holder and including contacts connected by a bridgim element, a carriage movable alon the recor holder, :1 reproducer supported hy the carriae and movable toward and away from sai holder, time controlled means for moving the carriage along said holder, means including elec ric contacts for returning the car riage to starting position, and means for moving said bridging element into engagement with the last mentioned contacts when the carriage reaches a predetermined position during its forward travel.

22. In a machine of the character described, a rotatable record holder. electrically controlled means for rotating said holder and including contacts connected by a bridging element, a carriage movable along the record holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from said holder, time controlled means for moving the carriage along said holder, means ineluding electric contacts for returning the carriage to starting position, means for moving said bridging element into engagement with the last mentioned contacts when the carriage reaches a predetermined position during its forward travel, and a latch 00- operating with the bridging element for holding the latter in engagement with the last mentioned contacts while the carriage is returning to starting position.

23.111 a machine of the character described, a rotatable record holder, electrically controlled means for rotating said holder and including contacts connected by a bridging element, a carriage movable along the record holder, a reproducer supported by the carriage and movable toward and away from said holder, time controlled means for moving the carriage along said holder, means including electric contacts for returning the carriage to starting position, means for moving said bridging element into engagement with the last mentioned contacts when the carriage reaches a predetermined position during its forward travel. a latch for holding the bridging element in engagement with the last ment-ioned contacts while the carriage is returning to starting position, means on the carriage for releasing the latch, and a spring for normally holding the bridging element in engagement with the first mentioned contacts.

JOHN L. FRANKLIN. 

